[sedef]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask those who are in the business about how to start working in the US. When answering consider the following please:

-the person who will apply to intern in a restaurant will accept to work for free only for accomodation (maybe even not that if it comes to that)

-they have both vocational high school and associate diplomas in cooking and have >3 years of professional experience in numerous kitchens but no international certificate

-this person requires a visa to enter the US

What kind of visa would this person need and how would they abotain it? Would going to a professional cooking school that gives an international certificate help with the procedure? What would the procedure be for a person to come to the US and work and would any restaurant actually do this? I mean is the paperwork so much that a restaurant would not go to the trouble just for an intern?

Thanks in advance for your time  

 

[chef brah]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask those who are in the business about how to start working in the US. When answering consider the following please:

-the person who will apply to intern in a restaurant will accept to work for free only for accomodation (maybe even not that if it comes to that)

-they have both vocational high school and associate diplomas in cooking and have >3 years of professional experience in numerous kitchens but no international certificate

-this person requires a visa to enter the US

What kind of visa would this person need and how would they abotain it? Would going to a professional cooking school that gives an international certificate help with the procedure? What would the procedure be for a person to come to the US and work and would any restaurant actually do this? I mean is the paperwork so much that a restaurant would not go to the trouble just for an intern?

Thanks in advance for your time

If you have studied in overseas culinary school...then look into J1 Visa.

J1 visa is for interns in US to get american experience and take it back with them....but in very few cases if you excel as an intern, they can apply for a permanent visa for u like H1B visa. Iook for Interexchange.org ..they are a J1 visa sponsor company that can also give u some potential employer listings or how to find one...first pick a city of choice...i would suggest new york as they have lots of openings.

Other option is for potential employers to apply for a short term B1 business visa for u ..but its complicated as you cannot do any paid work on B1 visa..its mainly just for 'training' sessions and 'meetings'...and any mention of 'internship' can raise flags by immigration that u might seek paid work.

J1 visa on the other hand allows u to be paid and has longer validity.